THE THIN RED LINE — but Reading Town's defence turned in another fine display to keep a clean sheet against Chessington United at Scours Lane

Reading Town extended their unbeaten Seagrave Haulage League run to four matches with a deserved win against a determined Chessington United side at Scours Lane on Saturday.

Town welcomed back skipper Tommy Boylan after a lengthy absence through injury and suspension and he added that extra bit of steel in midfield that has been missing in recent weeks.

The home side got off to the perfect start when they took the lead after only four minutes.

Andy Sharratt won the ball on the halfway line, and with the Chessington players appealing for handball, played a precision through ball into the path of Ashaine Murray.

The young striker took the ball in his stride before firing past the visiting keeper from 10 yards.

Former Unity ace Raymond Spence then sent Murray through on goal with another defence-splitting pass, but on this occasion the Reading striker was thwarted by a brave diving save at his feet by Andrews in the visitors' goal.

Town were dominating all aspects of play and they almost increased their lead on 25 minutes.

Spence, who was proving to be a thorn in the side of the Chessington defence, fired in a stinging half-volley from the edge of the box which Andrews hung onto, high to his left, at the second attempt.

The second period saw Chessington change their formation to include an extra man in midfield.

This ploy succeeded in preventing the Reading strikers from enjoying the service they had received in the first half.

However, in the 55th minute Mark Barney, who had been ineffective in the first half, broke away from his marker and whipped in a telling cross to the near post.

The ball was met on the volley by Murray, who crashed his shot high into the net past a static Andrews.

This goal effectively killed the game as a contest and Chessington resorted to spoiling tactics, the majority of which earned the displeasure of referee Krista-Marie Cundy.

The game burst into life in the closing minutes following the dismissal of Chessington's central defender O'Sullivan for comments he made to Miss Cundy.

In the 88th minute Abid Hussain in the home goal, was forced to make his first save of the match, when he reacted smartly to turn over a close range header from Barnes.

Spence then broke away for Town, but his attempted chip lacked the necessary height to cause Andrews any problem.

With the game entering stoppage time Paul Bolger saw his header from Barney's free kick, saved at full stretch by Andrews.

From the corner that followed the same player got in another header on goal, only to be denied again by a flying save from Andrews.

With seconds remaining sub Dave Mills beat the offside trap, but with only the keeper to beat, pulled his shot wide of the post.